Chapter 232: Chapter 233: Trouble in the Workshop

The main chamber was spacious. Not only did it have a heated kang bed, but there was even a designated spot for Jin Qianqian’s favorite canopy bed.

In the side room to the left, rows of cabinets filled the entire space, providing more than enough room for both Jin Qianqian and Gu Wenheng’s clothes.

The side room to the right featured a bathroom of Jin Qianqian’s own design, completely tiled in ceramic, and even had running water piped in through ceramic conduits.

As for the side rooms flanking the antechamber, Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian had no intention of letting anyone eavesdrop, so they converted them into separate studies for themselves.

The gauze curtains in the house swayed gently in the breeze drifting through the doorway, making Jin Qianqian adore the place all the more.

"It’s so beautiful," Qing Mei sighed. Her heart warmed as she thought of her own brand-new, private room in the side courtyard. ’Even when my family were minor landlords, I probably didn’t live this comfortably.’

"Madam, someone just came from the back. They said there’s trouble at the workshop," Housekeeper Fu said, rushing in.

"What kind of trouble?"

Jiang Zhongfu beckoned the old woman who had brought the message. "Explain clearly, quickly."

"Some people started fighting," the old woman said timidly. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Aren’t Qingzhu and Qing Lan there today? If a fight broke out, why didn’t they intervene?" Jin Qianqian asked as she started walking out.

The old woman followed cautiously. "They’re all people from Gaoling Village."

Jin Qianqian paused. "You guard the rear side gate? What is your family name?"

The woman nodded. "Yes. My husband’s family name is Zhang. Everyone calls me Granny Zhang."

"Is it usually just you on duty there?"

"Yes, but another woman, Wang Pozi, is on watch at night."

Jin Qianqian walked without stopping. "Who came to tell you about the fight?"

"It was Steward Li. She told me to come get Manager Fu."

By this time, Jin Qianqian had reached the rear courtyard, where the Gu Family Brothers, who were busy planting flowers, all spotted her.

Seeing Jin Qianqian surrounded by servants and radiating an air of nobility, the brothers were once again reminded of the vast difference in their stations.

Jin Qianqian, of course, saw them as well. With a flick of her eyes, she walked straight toward them. "Thank you for your hard work, brothers."

"It’s what we ought to do," Gu Yuantu said, waving his hands nervously when he saw his older brothers remain silent.

"Seventh Sister-in-law, have you come to inspect the house?" Gu Yuanjin asked, snapping back to reality. "Has Seventh not returned yet?"

Jin Qianqian replied, "It will be a while longer. By the way, Big Brother, I just heard a fight broke out at the workshop. It seems to involve people from our village. Would you all like to come with me to see what’s going on?"

Gu Yuanjin was a bit surprised. "We can go?"

Jin Qianqian smiled. "Of course."

Gu Yuanshui’s eyes darted around. "Is it that wife of mine who’s fighting?"

Jin Qianqian shook her head. "They only said it was people from our village. I don’t know the specifics myself just yet."

Gu Yuanshui’s heart pounded even harder. ’If it’s not her, then what does our sister-in-law mean by this?’

As soon as they passed through the side gate and into the rear workshop area, they could hear Li Xiaohua’s shrill voice from a distance. "Who the hell do you think you are? This workshop belongs to our Gu family! You’re just a purchased slave, yet you dare to climb all over your masters."

"Let me tell you, if you don’t get on your knees and apologize to me right now, I’ll have Housekeeper Fu sell you off!"

"Even if the Madam decides to sell me off, the facts of this matter must be made clear," Nanny Li, Li Lianhua, retorted, not about to back down. "The Madam put me in charge of this workshop, which means I have the right to oversee all its affairs, big and small."

"You refuse to handle the molds with care as instructed, and instead toss them about carelessly. You will certainly be held responsible for any damage."

"Even if you are the Madam’s relatives, you must abide by the rules of this place."

"A classic case of an uppity servant bullying her masters. Our Seventh Sister-in-law has certainly raised some fine servants. Did she not tell you who we are?" Liu Liu chimed in.

"Even so, you shouldn’t have hit her," Qingzhu said, supporting Li Lianhua. As she drew closer, Jin Qianqian could see that Li Lianhua’s face was bruised and swollen.

"So what if we hit her?" Li Xiaohua spat. "She doesn’t even know how to speak to us politely. Who does she think she is?"

Jin Qianqian clapped her hands slowly as she walked forward. "My, it’s certainly lively over here. Is all your work finished for the day?"

Qingzhu helped Li Lianhua hurry over to Jin Qianqian’s side. "Madam, Steward Li is injured."

"Tell me what happened." Jin Qianqian’s face was dark, her voice laced with ice.

Seeing Jin Qianqian, Li Xiaohua and the others looked around guiltily. But when they spotted their husbands trailing behind Jin Qianqian, they seemed to find their backbone and puffed out their chests once more.

Qingzhu recounted the events impartially.

For the past several days, everyone had been working together peacefully, each person doing their tasks according to the established rules.

But for some reason, Li Xiaohua and Liu Liu had started slacking off today. Not only were the molds they cleaned not up to standard, but they were also tossing them about angrily.

At first, everyone tolerated their behavior because they were relatives of the master. But as one mold after another cracked, Li Lianhua could no longer watch and do nothing.

She was, after all, the head steward of the entire workshop. If they had broken one or two, she would have turned a blind eye. But if the destruction continued, it would impact the entire day’s production.

She went over to reason with them, but the two sisters-in-law refused to listen and only grew more aggressive.

As Li Lianhua watched them destroy one mold after another, she tried to snatch them away. But this gave the two an opening, and they started swinging the molds and throwing them at her.

By the time Qingzhu and the others rushed over, Li Lianhua was already covered in bruises and scrapes.

"Third Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?"

"Seventh’s wife, you can’t blame us for this. These servants you bought are spouting nonsense."

"We didn’t deliberately break anything like they said. They just broke with a light touch. It’s your things that aren’t sturdy."

Jin Qianqian walked over, picked up two of the molds from the ground, and placed one in Gu Yuanhuo’s hand and the other in Gu Yuanshui’s. "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, please take a look for me. Are they really so fragile?"

"How many did those two break in total?" Jin Qianqian asked, turning back to Li Lianhua.

Ignoring the pain, Li Lianhua ran over and pointed to a pile of molds in the corner. There looked to be twenty or thirty of them.

"These were all broken today. When others handle them, it’s fine. But as soon as they get into their hands, this is what happens."

Jin Qianqian pursed her lips and turned to Qingzhu. "Send for a doctor. Her injuries need to be examined properly."

"She’s just an indentured slave. So what if she got hit a few times?" Li Xiaohua sneered. "Seventh’s wife, don’t listen to that old hag’s nonsense. We really didn’t break them on purpose. Sometimes you’re carrying them and not paying attention, and they’re bound to drop."

"You just can’t leave her in charge anymore. She makes a huge fuss over every little thing."

Gu Yuanhuo quietly tugged on her sleeve and whispered, "Just say less. You were the one in the wrong here."